One of my favourite people, a Brit (I know, that’s your shocked face), has a gorgeous wee boy for whom she has created a stunning, modern, masculine (all in grays) nursery. This is a woman who has chintz in her veins – but is Philippe Starck in practice (she lives with two men. One is a Scorpio. They invented “minimalist”.) Well I think that Mr Starck would approve of the above chair. Its modern’ish, but classic. Gran might not understand it – but the Bergere lines and faithful Jack would get her past the French sack cloth and “odd colours, duck”. It would work well in a toddles room – as well as his rooms at Oxford. Which is, entirely, the point of everything.

(Why is it “green”? The materials and stuffing meet all EU standards.)

God Save the Queen!

I’m utterly obsessed with Downton Abbey – the Julian Fellowes soap opera – ahem – I mean drama – that appeals to anglophiles and actual Brits, world wide.  I loves it more than the HRH loves her Corgis.

I also love that “shooting party” look – as anyone who has ever met my son knows. Which is quite a trick to pull off organically. Trust me – my life revolves around this problem.

But Adooka – a darling little organic brand – has a few pieces than can help your child look like they just might be found in Burke’s.

Gorgeous enough to show in both colours….

If I had a daughter, she would already own the two above coats. Both are worthy of an “Honourable” mention.

And for classic, something to wear with the Harris Tweed, trousers…these:

These would look best with a Chocolate Lab.

Even if you aren’t a great fan of costume dramas and any BBC piece that takes place in a country pile – these Adooka pieces are as responsibly made (here, in the colonies) as any of your organic faves. Green mums can like them just ’cause they are organic, low carbon footprint and durable. (Though that isn’t as fun.)

Until Sunday, Guv….

Paige Lauren makes comfy basics for mums who don’t want their daughters to look too “princess” or sons too “rock and roll”.  The muted colors and soft shapes are perfect for Spring – which is what you should buy them for at the wonderful 50% sale prices on her site right now. These are the stocking stuffers that will make the stocking proud.

Cute organic loungewear can be difficult to find, which is why I love these.

You know that t-shirt that you’ll never get rid of though it has a few coffee stains and tiny holes? Yea. Thats what this stuff feels like.

And at these half off prices, Paige Lauren was worth getting on the “nice” list.

It won’t be long now….!

Just a quick note: Sagecreek Organics has a great sale on right now.

And Christmas IS sneaking up….

My friends and credit card company both know that my favourite shop in the city is Odile. One of the wonderful things about them (if you are fiscally responsible), was that they didn’t have an online store. That has changed. Which is fabulous…for my credit card company.

I have always been shocked that there are only two “gorgeous” European style children’s shops in fair and sophisticated Gotham: Odile and Bonpoint. I know that there are heaps of expats here – as I see them sauntering around the Viagra Triangle in Hermes scarves and salmon colored trousers in the summer – looking bored and unimpressed. There is also both a French AND British school here – by which all accounts are filled with little EU children. So why only TWO lovely shops? Je Ne Sais Pas.

Anyway. Better for the two contenders then. The lovely thing about Odile, is that in addition to the beautiful French and Italian brands that they carry – including Lanvin (ahem), they also carry two gorgeous organic brands: Victoria Christmas and Tane Organics. Stunning AND green. It’s too wonderful. You also won’t find more beautiful (non-tweed – for that RL is king), blazers anywhere in the city. Trust me. I’ve looked.

Here are two winter coats that I think are divine. For la piccolina that will grow up and do a summer in Florence….

For the Master that will grow up and do the Glorious Twelfth near Holyrood….

You won’t find these togs at Baby GAP.

And for the organic wee bit…

And these essentials that my boys loved…

And the shoes. Well. If you love shoes you’ll ADORE these riding boots that any young lass would be proud to canter about in…

And for your sons that will never know from velcro….

And the baby who will not grow up to be a vegan…

In celebration of their new website – Odile is running a %15 discount right now – so DO dash to the store – on or offline – to save a few Francs/Lira. (Yes, I KNOW they don’t exist anymore. Thank you.)

They also have Victoria Christmas on sale at the ‘mo – so you may want to stock up. It washes wonderfully and looks as beautiful for the spare as it did for the heir.

Odile is for the mama whose children have Babar, Madeline and “This is….” books.  The mama who can tell the difference between Berlosconi and Brunello. And the mama who wishes that she had a wee farmhouse in Tuscany, or tiny little flat in Paris…. Oui, mama. There IS a place for you in Gotham. And they are now online.

x

As soon as I wrote a post about how I don’t like graphics on my tees – I found the exception. I do LOVE a literary quote – and this company – “Books on Shirts” – does lovely quotes on organic shirts that aren’t horrifying. (As much as I love The Ramones – I think 2 year olds wearing a Ramones shirts look silly. An Ascot – well, thats lovely….)

Available for both little future Dorothy Parkers and Stephan Frys, these shirts will delight your friends that actually have books.

(We all know that we don’t have time for such indulgences. Sadly.)

Books on Shirts also has grown up shirts.  Matching literati. Now there’s a Halloween costume idea!

If only they had quotes from Auntie Mame…

Though the looks are a bit crunchy for me, for mamas who don’t want their sons to grow up and have passages of Vile Bodies memorized, Barley & Birch  may be for you.

This cherry bolero is lovely, though some of the other natural dyes are a bit…well, natural looking. But all very organic and fair trade, mind you!

(I’m quite sure that a copy of Mother Jones arrives at Barley & Birch every month. Not that that is a bad thing. As I know loads of mums who like a “hempier” look and do scorn a bit at my sons cashmere habits.)

Anyway. Barley & Birch is a new discovery – and for mums that like organic t-shirts with graphics – you’ll be happy to know that they have loads.

Like this one.

Fair and balanced reporting for Green Mums.

I aim to please….

A huge lover of deal a day/week member shopping sites like Zulily  and Gilt (why spend cash you don’t need to on full price or valet?!) – Mini Social is having a great sale on Luca Charles organic basics today.

These are “stock up” pieces that you need for under sweaters in winter and as loungewear when the Spring (finally) arrives.

In all the colors that you need and the simple styles that go with anything (in our case, basics for under blazers), Luca Charles  makes lovely pieces that are slightly thicker cotton than Under the Nile. Perfect for the Midwest – maybe a wee bit heavy for Florida.

I know it seems a pain in the so much bigger than before the baby bum to sign up for these sites – but honestly – they DO have wonderful deals on organic clothes – and as fast as they grow – you’ll need the savings.

Plus. I never really plan my shopping – I kind of enjoy when the universe just pushes it my way.

But I’m a Pisces.

I leave the planning to the Virgos.

Ta!

I never actually believed my friends who warned me that boys – all boys – even ones clad in cashmere – love anything construction related.  My son makes me stop whenever he sees a crane, digger or other large piece of working equipment. For at least an hour (which is all mummy can handle.)  The other day we spent the morning watching a hole being filled on Lincoln. The ENTIRE morning. I had two decafs and and a bagel and caught up on my bills. I honestly could not believe his fixation.

So. When I saw these “construction” onsies over at Winter Water Factory - I had to post about them. Yes, they are organic (of course) – but more importantly – your older son will adore seeing your younger one in them. Trust me. This is what he would choose if he could.

There is also this ship motif…

And they have lovely girl prints – (if you like prints)…

I’m not a fan of prints, or of cranes (except Denny. He was hilarious.) – but I may cave and buy one for my baby boy – as I know my older son will love it.

The things we do for love.

Dig it.

My sons first Halloween was not green. Over an organic onesie, I threw this totally toxic costume, (above), before I had read how utterly foolish a move that had been. I’ve written about this before – and I know that many mums have already ordered far less toxic creations from Etsy (as have I) – but I wanted to mention a few other options for the mums that were too busy at snoozy client meetings to order a costume – and who really aren’t “Halloween People”.

Quite simply – a nice organic check shirt or dungarees + a cowboy hat = non-toxic Cowboy.

My son has both. (I was born in Texas. Its a requirement.)

Vest + Hat + play Tommy Gun = Chicago Gangster (we live in Chicago. Gangsters are still a “thing”) or “Hard Nosed Journalist” (also a Chicago archetype)…

Band vest or Military Jacket over anything = Homage to the Magical Mystery Tour and/or Band Leader and/or Little Soldier…

or…

Anything madras + a golf club = Olde Time Golfer….

(Whats truly scary – is that these are all my son’s “real” clothes….)

For the younger ones, most organic brands makes hoodies with animal ears. Add a bit of non-toxic make up (available at Whole Foods), and you’ll have yourself a little bear cub or other sweet creature….(these were all on Zulily today.)

Or this one…

And there is always just a suggestive print or shape to get baby in the spirit – without smothering him in chemicals…

And for those mums or children who really just aren’t into costumes, these organic “festive” enough to not make you seem like a curmudgeon t-shirts are just the thing…

or…

or…

or…

It’s actually easy to have a greener Halloween than one might think.

And lead is even scarier than these t-shirts.

Just.